Need money fast? You’re not alone. Life is expensive, and sometimes, you get hit with unexpected expenses that leave you scrambling. Whether you need to repair the roof of your house, fix your car, or buy clothes for a job interview, there are endless reasons why you might find yourself looking for ways to make money in a day.
There are a lot of scams out there, but it is possible to make some quick cash in a single day when you need it. Remitly is here to help you separate the real opportunities from the scams so that you can make some money quickly, no matter what you need it for.
Whether it’s freelancing, selling items, or the gig economy, here’s your complete guide to making money in a day.
You can make money quickly
Fast cash can seem too good to be true—and sometimes it is. While there are legitimate ways to earn money quickly, there are also many scams targeting people who need cash fast.
With that said, it’s easier than ever to make money fast. Apps like Uber, TaskRabbit, and DoorDash let you start earning the same day your signup is complete. Marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace allow you to sell items instantly, while having an active profile on freelance platforms might land you a paid gig quickly.
The main thing to understand is that making money fast comes often from leveraging what you have. That might be items you own and can sell, or skills that you have and can charge for. Once you know where to look, you can start working today and sometimes see money in your account within hours. Just be prepared for a bit of setup time, and check payment conditions to know for sure when you’ll receive your money.
Sell what you have
Nearly all of us have belongings we don’t really need. If you need money in a hurry, take a look around at what you have and what you could part with. You could make substantial cash fast by selling what you already have.
Online marketplaces make this easier than ever. Facebook Marketplace and eBay let you sell just about anything, from furniture to vehicles to home decor. Meanwhile, niche sites like Poshmark and Vinted (for selling clothes) or Gazelle (for electronics) can help you find buyers looking for what you have.
The trick here is to think like a customer. If you want a fast sale, you need high demand for your item. You can use Google Trends to help you find what people are currently looking for online, or browse current listings on Amazon and eBay to see what’s selling.
The more in demand your item is, the quicker it will sell. Items like rare sneakers or coveted game consoles can be quickly turned over to generate fast cash. Just remember that you may have to price your items competitively if you want them to move quickly.
What if you don’t have any belongings to sell? Make some.
It’s never been easier to sell digital products online. If you take photos, you could sell them to stock photography sites like Shutterstock. Handmade crafts sell on Etsy, and e-books can be sold on Gumroad or Amazon.
Although digital products typically take longer to generate income, in the long run, it could lead to a whole new income stream, side hustle, or even career for you.
Use the gig economy
The gig economy has been around for a long time now, but it’s been booming in recent years. The gig economy describes people working in short-term “gigs” for extra money, and several online platforms have grown into huge companies by helping people to provide services this way.
This creates a great opportunity to make money fast. These platforms also allow you to work for yourself, setting your own hours and having more control over your income.
There’s a huge range of platforms you can use to make money, depending on your skills and abilities.
- If you want quick money, consider apps like Uber Eats, Instacart, or TaskRabbit. These apps advertise jobs you can take right now, and registering is relatively simple. They often pay out within a day or two, offering one of the quickest ways to make money today.
- Alternatively, freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork can help you find clients and offer services. Whether you’re good at writing, coding, web design, graphic design, or social media management, these sites have thousands of clients willing to pay for your skills. Just bear in mind that building a profile and landing your first job may take a bit of time.
- A site like Canva can also help you create or edit templates for things like resumes or job applications. This helps you quickly create a product you can then sell on Etsy or Gumroad.
The best online platforms to make money
| Service | Platforms |
| Food delivery | Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub |
| Grocery delivery | Instacart, Shipt |
| Ridesharing | Uber, Lyft |
| Handyman & odd jobs | TaskRabbit, Handy |
| Freelancing (e.g., writing, design, data entry) | Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer |
| Quick design work (templates, graphics) | 99designs |
| Pet sitting or dog walking | Rover, Wag! |
| House sitting or rentals | TrustedHousesitters, Airbnb |
Offer local services for quick cash
There are so many great apps that can help you make money, but don’t overlook your local community for short-term work. People always need help with something, and they often prefer to hire someone local. Plus, doing odd jobs for people in your neighborhood can help build your reputation, so that you become the person people turn to when they need help.
Another advantage of keeping things local is that you can often get paid immediately for the work you do and sometimes in cash, which is ideal if you don’t have a bank account.
Consider things like:
- Yard work: mowing lawns, raking leaves, trimming bushes, shoveling snow
- House cleaning: vacuuming, dusting, mopping, organizing cluttered spaces
- Pet care: walking dogs, feeding pets, or offering overnight pet sitting
- Childcare: babysitting or helping parents with after-school pick-ups
- Running errands: grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, dropping off packages
- Handyman tasks: minor home repairs, painting, assembling furniture
- Washing cars: exterior washing, vacuuming interiors, detailing services
- Gutter cleaning: clearing out debris and leaves from roof gutters
- Helping with technology: setting up smart devices, updating software, or teaching basic tech skills
- Helping seniors: assisting with household tasks, meal prep, or providing transportation
- Event help: setting up or cleaning up after small local events or parties
How to find local jobs
- Check local bulletin boards. Local coffee shops, libraries, and grocery stores often have boards with people advertising work they need done. You can also post your own simple flyer to advertise your services.
- Spread the word. Word-of-mouth is a powerful way to find work in your neighborhood. Let friends, family, and neighbors know that you’re available and what you can do.
- Visit local small businesses. Some may need short-term help with deliveries, inventories, or displays.
- Use neighborhood-focused apps. Apps like Nextdoor and Facebook can help you connect with your local community.
Just remember that some types of work—like childcare or working with seniors—may require references or experience.
Participate in online surveys and testing
There are legitimate websites that will pay you to take surveys and perform easy website testing tasks. Sites like Survey Junkie, UserTesting, and Toluna are some of the options. Once you sign up, you need to stay alert for new opportunities, as they often go quickly. You won’t qualify for every survey, but once you do, some can be completed in just a few minutes, and may pay you the same day.
Taking online surveys isn’t a path to riches. But it is one of the easiest ways to make money fast, requiring no special skills or expertise.
Tap into your network
Sometimes, making quick money is about who you know. In your extended network, there are probably people who are looking for something that you can offer.
Think about what you’re good at. For example, if you can play an instrument, you could give a one-hour lesson to a beginner, either in person or online. If you’re a strong writer, you could help someone write a resume or job application letter.
Reach out to friends and family and post a message on your social media accounts to let people know what you can do. Many tasks, including writing, video editing, or helping with social media accounts, can be done completely online, so it doesn’t have to be someone nearby.
People are much more likely to hire someone they know or a friend of a friend, so use the network you already have to make new connections and open up new revenue streams. Your next small job could be just a message away.
You can make money today
Get-rich-quick schemes are often scams, but there are also honest and legitimate ways to make money in a day. Tap into your local network, harness the skills you already have, and use gig economy platforms that can help connect you with people who need your services.
There’s a whole world of people out there who need your help and are happy to pay for it. Find them, and you could be getting the cash you need within a few hours.
FAQs
What’s the fastest way to make money in one day?
If you need cash today, selling household items or doing one-off jobs for people in your neighborhood could be one of the quickest ways to get it. Also, gig economy jobs like food delivery or TaskRabbit can help you find people who will pay for your skills.
How much can I expect to earn in one day?
It really varies, depending on what you’re doing. For example, online surveys may only bring in a few dollars per hour. You could teach someone how to play an instrument or speak a foreign language and charge $30-$40 USD a lesson. You could also help someone with their garden or haul trash to the dump and charge $100 USD or more, or make a couple of hundred dollars helping someone move house.
Meanwhile, selling items you already own can bring in hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on what you’re selling.
Is making money in one day sustainable long term?
When you just need cash today, selling items and doing one-off jobs is a great way to get it. But for a more long-term solution, you might want to think about providing freelance services and offering high-demand skills that let you build a stable client base.
Are there any legal concerns I should be aware of?
Yes. Whenever you earn money—even if it’s a one-off job—you may need to report that income when filing taxes. In the US, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) requires you to report income from freelancing, selling goods, or gig work if it exceeds a certain threshold. Some platforms may send you a Form 1099, but it’s important to keep your own records.